Green: Energy Efficient Community In Gilbert Arizona

With Summer so obviously upon us, a great deal of time is though about our air conditioning and high electricity bills.  Gilbert is home to the first country in the U.S. to have an entire community to be built to reduce energy consumption by over 80%.

Meritage Homes has built its first green neighborhood in Gilbert, Ariz., according to a report in the Phoenix Business Journal. The energy-efficient subdivision aims to reduce energy consumption by 80 percent, according to the report. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the company said that much of the energy-saving technology deployed in the community did not exist as recently as a year ago.

Boasting a unique solar system that harnesses energy as well as heat, a tight envelope, and an array of conservation-minded products, houses in Meritage Homes’ new Arizona community exceed Energy Star requirements by 50%–while still maintaining a starting price point of $174,900.

Each of the 210 homes in the Lyon’s Gate development in Gilbert, Ariz., will feature a roof-mounted Echo solar system from PVT Solar. The systems not only convert sun power to electricity like traditional PV panels, but also transfer the remainder of the sun’s heat to air drawn-in under the panels for use in water and home heating; cool air is brought in during nighttime hours to supplement stale indoor air. According to PVT Solar, Echo generates twice as much energy as a basic PV system but only costs about 25% more.